The 10 Best Neighbourhoods in Vancouver

Choosing the Best Neighbourhoods: How We Did It

We have our fair share of lively debates here at VanMag HQ—whether macarons are still a thing, whether the Sylvia Hotel is haunted, et cetera, et cetera—but “What’s the best neighbourhood in Vancouver?” was the question that really brought the heat. Suddenly, it was east-siders versus west-siders, trendiness versus longevity, and hours of production time lost as we argued over the specific boundaries of whatever “the Fraserhood” is.

But subjectivity can take one only so far when it comes to finding an answer. After duking it out and doing our research (we are professionals, after all), we finally put our opinions aside and boiled “livability” down to its bare bones. Beyond lifestyle preferences and the intangible—and deeply personal—cool factor, we could all agree on a few things (see our full wish list below): a great urban neighbourhood will always be walkable, have reliable neighbours and feel safe and connected.

Our qualifiers established, we then turned to the expert, award-winning data journalist Chad Skelton, to mine stats and figures for analytic gold. Skelton worked with us to define quantifiable measurements for everything on our list, from trustworthy data sources like Stats Can and the City of Vancouver. To determine ethnic diversity, for example, he measured the chance that any two people, chosen at random, will be of a different race; for biking, walking or transit, he collected data on all the commuters who get to work without a car.

A few editorial decisions were made once the numbers were in hand. UBC ranked highly in all of our qualifying categories, but we agreed that recommending the campus to non-students was unrealistic. We cut a few lower-profile residential ’hoods from the comparison altogether (no offense, Arbutus Ridge!) to focus on the more diversely developed areas of the city. Ultimately, though, it was the cold, hard data that decided our 2018 Best Neighbourhood—the West End. (Just a coincidence that this is where our editorial director, Anicka Quin, happens to live…though that hasn’t stopped her from gloating.)

Of course, everyone (not just our opinionated editors) needs something different from a community—access to running trails, a great ramen bar, a safe place for your kids to play, a lively singles scene. Though each of the neighbourhoods on this list may be great, they’re also just a starting point—so we’ve put Skelton’s amazing interactive neighbourhood finder tool for you to tweak for yourself. Play around with categories that mean the most to you, find your personal best neighbourhood and then let us know where you landed. Because even after putting this issue to bed, we know this is one debate that may never reach an end.

Locals Say:“You’ll never feel unwelcome or out of place here. It’s a cute residential neighbourhood in the middle of downtown, next to a beach so beautiful they called it ‘Sunset.’ Eat it, every other neighbourhood.” —Caitlin Howden, 35, director at Blind Tiger Comedy and member of the Sunday Service

#2: Chinatown

The Vibe: Heritage blended with hipsterdom

Average Monthly Rent: $741

Average Home Price: $583,725

Neighbourhood Dream Day: Japanese-Italian fusion at the always-busy Kissa Tanto; the best barbecue buns at New Town; east- side-cool workouts at Tight Club.

Locals Say: “One side of my family originally settled here when they arrived in Canada. The other side owned one of the first Chinese restaurants in Vancouver; if it were still standing, it would be only a few blocks from my apartment.”—Geoff Louie, 29, accountant

#3: South Granville

The Vibe: High-end shopping plus charming heritage low-rises

Average Monthly Rent: $1,363

Average Home Price: $804,606

Neighbourhood Dream Day: Grab chi-chi drinks at West, then fulfill your reno fantasies at the dozen home decor shops that line the SoGra strip.

Locals Say: “It’s my favourite area to stroll on a sunny day. It’s full of beautiful pre-war apartment buildings, and there are always neighbourhood dogs to say hello to. Plus, the wild mushroom gnudi at Fiore on 12th are delicious little pillows from heaven.”—Sally White, 31, creative director at Owl Crate Jr.

#4: Fairview

The Vibe: Sleepy—but just a short walk away from action in any direction

Average Monthly Rent: $1,279

Average Home Price: $684,255

Neighbourhood Dream Day: Coffee at Elysian before a workout at Gymbox—gotta be fit to climb that Oak Street hill.

Locals Say: “The Laurel Street land bridge starts on the corner of West 7th Avenue and crosses over 6th Avenue. I love that you don’t really know when you’re on it—it’s a really beautiful example of landscape integration.”—Marianne Amodio, 46, architect

#5: Downtown

The Vibe: Big-city bustle

Average Monthly Rent: $1,692

Average Home Price: $785,058

Neighbourhood Dream Day: Shop-hop Robson’s swanky brand-name stores and get lost in the Holt Renfrew Beauty Hall; peruse the food truck options outside the Vancouver Art Gallery as carefully as the art inside.

Locals Say: “The food court at International Village is surprisingly wonderful, especially Bali Thai and Canra Sri Lankan, and you can buy literally everything you need at Yokoyaya. But I would recommend never going to Jam Cafe because there is no brunch in the world worth that lineup.”—Michelle Cyca, 30, writer

#6: Gastown

The Vibe: Techies and tourists collide on boutique-lined cobblestone streets

Average Monthly Rent: $914

Average Home Price: $644,599

Neighbourhood Dream Day: Work your way through the 50 beers on the menu at the Alibi Room; stock up on fashion basics at Frank and Oak.

Locals Say: “I live and work in Gastown, so I basically never leave. In the afternoon, I like to head over to Crab Park with friends for a barbecue and soak up the sun; it’s not uncommon to see something unexpected, from an interpretive dance performance to a brass band on parade.”—Kristyn Stilling, 37, film producer

#7: Yaletown

The Vibe: West Coast yuppie paradise

Average Monthly Rent: $1,910

Average Home Price: $1,095,068

Neighbourhood Dream Day: Early morning SoulCycle sweat sessions; scones at Small Victory; vodka tonics at the Distillery Bar and Kitchen.

Locals Say: “Being a first-time mom actually means I can only do one or two things out of the house a day, but spreading doggie play dates at Coopers’ Park and Hurricane Grill patio brunches throughout the week makes it a great place to live.”—Deirdré Fang, 30, standardized-patient trainer

#8: Coal Harbour

The Vibe: Polished and serene

Average Monthly Rent: $1,823

Average Home: $1,358,013

Neighbourhood Dream Day: Cycle the seawall to earn that hot chocolate from Mink.

Locals Say: “It’s the best location for North Shore mountain views and seaplane watching, with easy access to the West End, downtown, Stanley Park and the North Shore.”—Maureen Leyland, 62, retired lawyer

#9: Railtown

The Vibe: Gritty and up-and-coming

Average Monthly Rent: $560

Average Home Price: $679,218

Neighbourhood Dream Day: The Settlement Building is home to Postmark Brewing and excellent brunch spot Belgard Kitchen; find modern Québecois cuisine at the buzzy St. Lawrence and handcrafted furniture from Hinterland Design.

Locals Say: “Railtown still feels very quiet and removed from the city, even if it’s just blocks away. Once people come here, they often stay.” —Kate Horsman, nutritionist at Rebel Health

#10: Kitsilano

The Vibe: Chill but connected

Average Monthly Rent: $1,512

Average Home Price: $1,277,759

Neighbourhood Dream Day: Snag a spot on Darby’s second-floor patio—with views for miles—on a sunny day; the beach and Arbutus Greenway offer a little nature escape from the city.

Locals Say: “Walk down to 4th for breakfast pizza at Nook, hop on the bikes, cruise the Greenway, end up down at the Kits dog beach—it’s all the perks of a regular beach, plus cute dogs.”—Colin Sharp, 28, copywriter

Smarter N. U. 15:13, 26. Mar. 2018.

TR 21:43, 26. Mar. 2018.

This article is so out of touch concerning affordability and stated average rents, I am left me dumbfounded. Even marginal research in rental rates via Craigslist would indicate extreme lack of preparation in writing this article or even the assertion that Vancouver is affordable place to live. Seriously

Smarter N. U. 11:59, 11. Apr. 2018.

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